Let’s face it — pets can be amazingly
entertaining. Picture the black Lab scampering joyously after far-flung
tennis balls, or the fluffy Persian purring on a windowsill, entranced by
birds flitting perplexingly out of reach on the other side of the glass.
Well beyond their entertainment value, pets possess the power to improve
people’s emotional and physical health. Research on the two most common
household pets in the United States — dogs and cats — indicates these
furry companions can do everything from calm the nerves to save lives.
Here’s what the research shows, according to websites such as the Centers
for Disease Control and WebMD:
• Playing with pets can be physiologically calming and emotionally
pleasurable, lowering stress levels and blood pressure.
• Pet owners tend to get more exercise than they otherwise might, with
associated health benefits.
• Children who grow up with “furred animals” (dogs, cats, farm animals)
may have decreased risk of allergies and asthma.
• Elderly pet owners may keep a more positive attitude, helping them
better weather the difficulties associated with aging.
• Pet owners with some medical conditions, such as AIDS, have been shown
to be less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.
• People who suffer from shyness or social isolation can make new
connections with others through their pets.
• Research even suggests some pets may be able to predict seizures or
detect cancer.
In some cases, the positive effect of pets is nothing if not
extraordinary. Service dogs help disabled persons by assisting with their
mobility, rescue dogs help locate and save people in times of disaster,
and therapy dogs bring comfort and happiness to sick children in hospitals
and elderly in nursing homes.
Gail Bishop, a counselor with the Argus Institute at Colorado State
University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, has seen those benefits
firsthand through her work with pet owners. She tells the story of a woman
whose child has cerebral palsy.
“She told me other children were afraid of her son” because of his
difficult speech and unfamiliar movements. “But as soon as he got a
service dog, it was an incredible social bridge. Now he’s one of the most
popular kids in class,” Bishop says.
Unconditional love is another positive quality of pets, giving their
owners a sense of worth and responsibility by caring for them. “We just
don’t get that from our human relationships,” Bishop says. “You come home
from a long day of work to a furry little friend — it makes you feel very
good.” |
| Prepare for
success Before running out to
find the perfect pooch or kitty, it’s important to read up on pet
ownership — to minimize transitional problems and create a long-term
plan for their care.
Pet ownership means budgeting for essentials like food, vaccines,
grooming and vet bills. Pet owners must also commit to providing the
animals with the attention and exercise they need.
For information on pet ownership, including age-appropriate pets and
pets whose temperaments will fit your lifestyle:
• Start your research at the local
library. Many books are available on animal breeds and pet ownership,
including books geared toward children.
• Visit the Humane Society of the United States online at
www.hsus.org.
• Look for information at local pet stores.
• Take a trip to the Larimer Humane Society, 6317 Kyle Avenue, just
northeast of Trilby and College in Fort Collins,
www.larimerhumane.org. This
organization’s foster-care program can be a great way to “try out” pet
ownership.
• If you’re interested in adopting a
homeless pet and didn’t find a good match at the humane society, check
this listing of Colorado pet shelters (including purebreds): muttcats.com/shelters/colorado.htm.
• For information on service dogs, check out the Larimer Animal People
Partnership at
www.colapp.org. |
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